Liquid transferring apparatus



Aug. 13, 1940. R. s. M KEEVER 2,211,282

LIQUID TRANSFERRING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .FI' J T lgly ggm g I l-i To STORAGE Aug. 13, 1940. R. s. McKEEVER 2,211,282

LIQUID TRANSFERRING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 47 45 4, j v 4 J21 .4

INVENTOIg,

Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE 2.211.2 2 LIQUID mansraanmo APPARATUS Application January 27, 1938, Serial No. 187,278

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in means for transferring liquids and more especially to means for passing liquids from oil and gas separator to stock tanks or the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide novel means for transferring oil from a separator and delivering it to a stock tank or the like, which may in some instances be at a higher elevation th the separator.

Another object 1 to furnish delivery means which will eliminate the necessity of elevating the separator on a tower or elevated platform where the point of delivery is at a higher elevation than the separator.

A further object is to supply delivery means which will allow the lowering of pressure on the separator to atmospheric or subatmospheric and yet permit the delivery of the oil from the separator to the point of storage, even though the latter be at a higher elevation than the separator.

Another object is to provide delivery means which includes a tank or chamber that may be furnished as a unitary part of a separator or form a base for a separator.

A still further object is to supply delivery means including elements for measuring or metering the oil as it is delivered so that the operator can ascertain at any time just how much oil has been delivered from the separator.

Another object is to provide delivery systems employing three-way diaphragm valves so as to reduce the number of valves required in such a system. With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in vertical section of an oil and gas separator provided with my improvements; some features of the improvements being shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in vertical section and partly broken away of one of the motor or diaphragm valves forming part of the equipment.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the float-operated pilot valve with its cover plate removed.

Fig. 4 is an end. elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, l designates a conventional oil and gas separator associated with a measuring or transferring chamber II. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the chamber or tank ll forms the base of the oil and gas separator, and is segregated from the separating chamber by a partition i 2 forming the bottom of one chamber and the top of the other.

I3 designates the separator inlet and H, the gas outlet which may be controlled by a fluid pressure-operated valve 15,

The oil outlet of the separator is connected by a conduit It to the chamber l I so that oil discharged from the lower end of the separator will be passed through the chamber ll before being conveyed by the pipe I! to a storage tank or the like which may, if necessary, be arranged at a higher elevation than the separator.

A three-way valve I 8, hereinafter described in detail, is interposed in the pipe It for alternately placing the tank In in communication with the pipe I! and chamber II.

Another three-way valve IQ of the same type is interposed in a conduit 20, 2| and is adapted to alternately open and close communication between the upper ends of the two tanks.

A by-pass pipe 22 having a hand-operated valve 23 connects portions of the pipes 20, 2| to place the upper portions of the tanks in direct communication when desired.

The valves I8 and I9 are controlled by fluid pressure which may be derived from an outside source through the pipe 24 or from an inside source through a tube 25 leading from the top portion of the separator. The pipe 24 is connected by a branch 26 to the valve I9 and the branch is provided with a hand-controlled valve 21. When that valve is open and the valve I 9 is in a certain position, pressure fluid can flow through 24, 26 and 2| into the top portion of the auxiliary tank II for the purpose of forcing oil from that tank through the pipe II.

If on the other hand the valve 21 is closed and the valve l 9 is in the same position, and the valve 23 is open, pressure fluid from the top portion of the separator chamber II) can flow through the pipe 22 and force oil from the tank II.

A tube 28 having a hand-controlled valve 3| interposed therein, connects the branch 26 to the condensate chamber 30. The tube 25 having a hand-controlled valve 29 places the condensate chamber in communication with the upper end of the separator chamber iii. If either of the hand-controlled valves 29 or 3| is closed and the other opened, pressure fluid will flow to the condensate chamber. The pressure fluid flows from the latter to a pressure gauge 62 and then through a tube 66 and reducing regulator 64 to a pilot valve 64, which will be described hereinaiter.

Such pilot valve structure controls the passage of the pressure fluid through tubes 66 and 66 to the diaphragm chambers Ila and "a of the valves i8 and it. A hand-operated valve 31 is interposed in the tube 26 so that pressure fluid may be cut off from the diaphragm chamber Isa when it is desired to maintain the valve I! in a particular position when utilizing the by-pass line 22.

The pilot valve 34 is controlled by a float 66 arranged in chamber il in'such manner that pressure fluid is' applied to the diaphragm chambers I811 and i911 until the float is elevated to an uppermost position, at which time the pilot valve closes and permits pressure to pass from the diaphragm chambers until the float reaches its lowermost position. Obviously as the float descends the liquid is forced out of the chamber H by pressure fluid entering through 24, 26 and 2i or through 20 and 22. Of course, if it is unnecessary to force the liquid out, the by-pass pipe 22 may simply serve to equalize pressure in the two tanks l0 and Ii.

The three-way pressure control valves i6, is, may each be of the form shown in Fig. 2. There it will be noted that the valve casing is divided by a partition 39 into an upper chamber 40 and a lower chamber 4|, each chamber having a hollow boss 42, 42a, through which a fluid may enter or be discharged. The partition is provided with a port surrounded by a valve seat 43, arranged opposite a second valve seat 44 in a port 45 that communicates with a passageway 46 through which fluid may enter or be discharged. These seats cooperate with a duplex valve head 41 having fluted portions 48 and 49 guided respectively by the ports, and the valve heads are connected to one end of a slidable stem 50 that has its other end secured to a diaphragm 6| arranged in the diaphragm chamber of the valve. A coil spring or the like 52 cooperates with the valve stem to normally hold the valve head in contact with the uppermost valve seat. When fluid pressure is admitted to the compartment 53 of the diaphragm chamber of the valve, the central portion of the diaphragm will move downwardly and cause the valve head to open the upper port and to close the lower one.

It will be understood that so far as the valve i8 is concerned, the portion of the pipe i6 leading from the chamber ill will be connected to the boss 42; the portion leading to the chamber II will be connected to the boss 42a; and the passageway 46 will communicate with the pipe ll. of course, the tube 35 will be connected to the top of the diaphragm chamber of the valve.

So far as valve I9 is concerned, pipe 20 will be connected with the boss 42; pipe 2 I, with the boss 42a; branch 26, with the passageway 46; and tube 36, with the diaphragm chamber.

It is evident from Fig, 1 that if the valve heads of valve l8 and ii! are closing the upper ports, and oil is being forced from the tank I I by pressure fluid from an outside source, such fluid will enter through 24, 26 and 2i, and the oil will be discharged through pipe l1.

When the float 38 reaches its lowermost position, the pressure fluid will be admitted to the diaphragm chambers of the valves l8 and I9 and cause the valve heads to close the lower ports and open the upper ones. At such time pressure will be equalised in the two tanks by means pipes 26, 2| and the oil will flow from thechsmber i6 through pipe "into the tank II.

The pilot valve 24 may be controlled by the float through the medium of any suitable instrumentalities. One suitable means is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. 4

These views illustrate a pilot valve of the snap action type. It will be noted that the supply of gas under pressure enters a port 660 in the top of a casing Ma. and passes to the diaphragms of the diaphragm motor valves i6, II by way of a port 62a. The flow is controlled by a valve head 66a mounted on a stem 64 which extends into a housing 55 that is suitably supported on the fluid receiver. The lower end of the valve stem is adJustably connected to a yoke 66 that is pivotally connected to one end portion of a rocking lever 61. The medial portion of the latter is pivotally mounted in the housing on a fulcrum pin 56, and the other end portion of the level is pivotally connected to a link It. A com member 60 has its upper end pivotally connected to the link by means of a pin M which also extends through an aperture 62 in the rocking lever. The pin and the wall of the aperture limit the pivotal movement of the link.

The cam member 60 is provided with an upper cam surface 63 and a lower cam surface 64, which surfaces cooperate with a roller 66 fulcrumed on a pin 66 supported by a swinging lever 61 which is conected at one end to the float in the fluid receiver and has its other end pivotally mounted at 68 in the housing. A coil spring 68 has one of its ends connected to the housing and its other end connected to the medial portion of the cam member 60 above the cam surfaces.

From the above it will be clear that as the float risesthe roller will pass the lower cam surface of the member 60 and in rolling on the upper cam surface it will pull the member down so as to swing the rocking lever into position to open the valve 530. Of course, the spring during such movement will act to snap the parts into the new positions. When the valve 66a is opened, the gas under pressure will act on the diaphragms of the diaphragm motor valves to shift them so that the pressure gas will flow into the fluid receiver and discharge the contents of the receiver. As the liquid is discharged the float will descend until the roller of the swinging lever reaches the lower cam surface of the member 60 and at such time the spring will function to cause the member 60 to snap upwardly and to close the valve 53a.

For the purpose of measuring or metering, I arrange a conventional counter III on the line 66 and the counter is provided with an actuating member (not shown) which in turn is moved by the admission of pressure fluid through valve 53a each time the head of valve I6 is depressed by its diaphragm.

In operating my improved apparatus, I found that when the oil is prevented from discharging from the chamber III while oil is being discharged from chamber II, a gas lock tends to develop and retard the movement of the oil from chamber ill to chamber ll during a subsequent cycle. This affects the capacity of the vessel materially. To overcome the difllculty, a tube I60. places the upper end of chamber II in communication with the pipe IS. A hand-operated needle valve lib and a check valve 160 are interposed in the tube. By using this line, the check valve opens im- 2,21 mes mediately, when valve II is placed in position for oil to travel from chamber M to chamber it.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the apparatus may be employed simply for measuring the oil discharged from tank ID or may be employed for forcing the oil out oi the chamber ii to a higher elevation either with or without measuring the same. 7 It valves 21 and 31 are closed, and valve 23 opened, the apparatus may serve simply to measure the oil from the separator, and at such time the pressure fluid for actuating the valve it may be received from an outside source through the pipe 24 or from an inside source through the pipe 25. 01 course, it the valve 3i is closed and the valve 28 properly set, gas under pressure from the top portion of the separator chamber ill will serve to operate'the valve i8 when the pilot valve 53a is opened.

This apparatus can function as an ordinary separator, and when the chamber ii has been fllled Irom chamber ill, the amount of liquid on During such discharge, as oil cannot enter the chamber i i from chamber i0, it simply builds up in the chamber i0. Consequently, I can use my improved combination as a separator andalso measure each discharge from the lower chamber ii.

I wish it distinctly understood that my improved liquid transferring apparatus as described and illustrated is in the form which I desire to construct it and that changes and variations may be made as may be convenient or desirable without departing from the salient features of the invention, and I therefore intend the following claims to cover such modifications as naturally fall within the lines Of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an oil and gas separator of the type having a chamber, a tank, and means for conveying oil from the separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to a point of storage, the improvement which comprises a pressure fluid controlled valve interposed in the said means for controlling the passage of oil from the separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to storage, conduit means placing the upper portion of the tank in communication with the upper portion of the separator chamber, a valve interposed in the conduit means, and means controlled of liquid levels in the tank for controlling said pressure fluid operated valve.

2. In an oil and gas separator 01 the type having a chamber, a tank, and means for conveying oil from the separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to a point of storage, the improvement which comprises a pressure fluid controlled valve interposed in the said means for controlling the passage of oil from the separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to storage, conduit means placing the upper portion of the tank in communication with the upper. portion of the separator chamber, a valve interposed in the conduit means and adapted to be controlled by the operator, and means controlled by liquid levels in the tank for controlling said pressure fluid operated valve.

3. In an oil and gas separator of the type having a chamber, a tank, and means for conveying oil from the separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to a point of storage, the improvement which comprises a pressure fluid controlled valve interposed in the said means for levels in the tank for controlling said pressure fluid operated valves.

4. In an oil and gas separator 01 the type having a chamber, a tank, and means for conveying oil from the separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to a point 0! storage, the improvement which comprises a pressure fluid controlled valve interposed in the said means for controlling the passage oi oil from the separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to storage, conduit means placing the upper portion of the tank in communication with the upper portion of the separator chamber, a second pressure fluid controlled valve interposed in the each discharge oi chamber II can be measured.

conduit means, and means controlled by liquid levels in the tank for simultaneously applying pressure to the pressure fluid operated valves to open communication in the conduit means and oil conveying means between the separator and tank, and to close communication between the tank and storage.

5. In an oil and gas separator 01! the type having a chamber, a tank, and means for conveying oil from the separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to a point of storage, the improvement which comprises a pressure fluid controlled valve interposed in the said means for controlling the passage of oil from the separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to storage, conduit means placing the upper portion Of the tank in communication with the upper portion of the separator chamber, a second pressure fluid controlled valve interposed in the conduit means, a pipe controlled by the last-mentioned valve for leading a pressure fluid into the conduit means, and means controlled by liquid levels in the tank for simultaneously applying fluid pressure to both of said valves to open communication between the separator chamber and tank through the conduit means and oil conveying means, for closing communication between the pipe and conduit means, and for closing communication between the tank and storage.

6. In an oil and gas separator of the type having a chamber, a tank, and means for conveying oil from the separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to a point of storage, the improvement which comprises a pressure fluid controlled valve interposed in the said means for controlling the passage of oil from the separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to storage, conduit means placing the upper portion of the tank in communication with the upper portion of the separator chamber and means controlled by liquid levels in the tank for leading gas to the pressure fluid controlled valve for the tank and from the tank to storage. conduit means placing the upper portion or the tank in communication with the upper portion oi the separator chamber, a valve interposed in. the conduit means, and means controlled by liquid level in the tank for leading a pressure fluid from an external source to the pressure fluid controlled valve for placing the chamber in communication with the tank and closing communication between the tank and storage.

8. In an oil and gas separator or the type having a chamber, a tank, and means for conveying oil from the separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to a point of storage, the improvement which comprises a pressure fluid controlled valve interposed in the said means for controlling the passage of oil from the separator chamber to the'tank and front the tank to storage, conduit means placing the upper portion of the tank in communication with the upper portion of the separator chamber, a second pressure fluid controlled valve interposed in the conduit means, a pilot valve, a valved pipe connected with the pilot valve for leading a pressure fluid to the latter, tubing having an interposed manually operated valve, for leading the pressure fluid from the pilot valve to the pressure fluid controlled valves, and means controlled by liquid levels in the tank for controlling said pressure fluid operated valves.

9. In an oil and gas separator of the type having a chamber, a tank, and means for conveying oil from the separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to a point of storage, the improvement which comprises a valve interposed in the said means for controlling the passage of oil from the separator chamber to the tank. conduit means placing the upper portion of the tank in communication with said means at a point between the valve, and the separator chamber, a check valve interposed in the conduit means, and means controlled by liquid levels in the tank for controlling the first-mentioned valve.

10. In an oil and gas separator ot the type having a chamber, a tank, and means for conveying oil Iromthe separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to a point of storage, the improvement which comprises valve means interposed in said conveying means for controlling the passage or oil from the separator chamber to.the tank and. from the tank to storage,'a conduit placing the upper portion or the tank in communication with the upper portion oi the separator chamber, a valve interposed in the conduit means, and means controlled by liquid levels in the tank for controlling said valve means.

11. In an oil and gas separator of the type having a chamber, a. tank, and means for conveying oil from the separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to a point of storage, the improvement which comprises valve means interposed in said conveying means for controlling the passage of oil from the separator chamber to the tank and from the tank to storage, a conduit placing the upper portion of the tank in communication with the upper portion of the separating chamber, a valve interposed in said conduit, and means controlled by liquid levels in the tank for simultaneously actuating said valve means and valve.

ROY S. McKEEVER. 

